Parliamentary Procedure III - Texas Health Science!

Parliamentary Procedure: Lesson Three 

Course 

Health Science 

Unit I 

Leadership 

Essential 

Question 

Do I know how 

to conduct 

myself in a 

professional 

business 

meeting? 

TEKS 

130.204(c)10B, 

10C 

Prior Student 

Learning 

A basic 

understanding of 

a professional 

business 

meeting. 

Parliamentary 

Procedure 

Lessons 1 and 2 

Estimated time 

1.5 – 2 hours 

Rationale 

A thorough understanding of Parliamentary Procedure is necessary in the 

orderly conduction of business meetings. 

Objectives 

Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to: 

Understand principles of Parliamentary Procedure 

Formulate basic motions using Parliamentary Procedure 

Engage 

In small groups, make a list of places where parliamentary procedure is 

regularly used. What do they have in common? How are they different? Do 

you think these organizations could run as effectively without parliamentary 

procedure? Compare answers as a class. 

Key Points 

I. Motions 

A. Bring business to an assembly in an orderly manner 

B. The main types of motions in Parliamentary Procedure 

1. Main motions 

2. Subsidiary 

3. Privileged 

4. Motions that Bring a Question before the assembly again 

5. Incidental 

C. Motions are ranked – within each rank the types of motions 

also have ranking 

1. Highest ranking are privileged 

2. Next highest are subsidiary 

3. Main motions have no rank 

4. Incidental motions really have no rank as well 

D. Motions begin with the words “I move that . . . . . .” 

E. Motions are short and to the point – no discussion or excessive 

description is needed. This can be included in the debate 

after. 

F. Only one motion can be considered at a time – sequence of 

what should be considered is determined by the rank – highest 

to lowest. Thus main motions are considered last, because 

they have no ranking. 

II. Ranked motions 

A. Main motions – introduce all business 

B. Subsidiary motions – have to do with another motion 

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.

1. Modify the motion 

2. Delay action on it 

3. Dispose of it 

C. Privileged motions – have to do with the conduction of the 

meeting itself, and have to do with such emergency that they 

interrupt everything else. 

D. Incidental motions deal with questions of procedure and arise 

out of another motion or item of business 

III. Main motions 

A. Require a second – if not received, the motion dies 

B. Are debatable 

C. Are amendable 

D. Require a majority vote 

E. May be reconsidered 

F. Cannot interrupt a speaker – must wait for the floor to be 

yielded, and the one introducing the main motion must gain the 

floor 

IV. Subsidiary Motions – are related to other motions – applied to other 

motions 

A. Lay on the Table – delay action on another motion because 

something more important has arisen 

1. Requires a second 

2. Is not debatable 

3. Is not amendable 

4. Cannot be reconsidered 

5. Cannot interrupt another speaker 

B. Previous Question – requires an immediate vote on another 

motion 




4. Passed by a 2/3 vote 

5. Cannot interrupt another speaker 

6. State “I move the previous question” 

C. Postpone definitely – defers action on another motion to a 

specific day, place, and time 



3. Is amendable 

4. 2/3 vote required because it restricts 

5. May be reconsidered 

6. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

D. Commit or refer – gives a motion more detailed attention or 

permits it to be handled privately 


2. Is debatable 



4. Majority vote required 

5. May be reconsidered 


E. Amendments – change a main motion by inserting, adding, 

striking, and substituting 

1. Require a second 

2. Is debatable if the main motion is debatable 

3. Amendment of the first degree may be amended by 

amendment of the second degree 

4. Second degree amendments cannot be amended 

5. Related to motion pending 


7. May be reconsidered only until the main motion is 

adopted; otherwise, the whole main motion may be 

reconsidered 

8. May not interrupt one who has the floor 

F. Postpone indefinitely – disposes of the question without having 

to vote on it 







V. Privileged Motions – have to do with the conduct of the meeting, and 

any other pressing issues that require immediate attention 

A. Adjourn – terminates the meeting 

1. “I move that we adjourn” 


3. Not debatable 

4. Not amendable 




B. Recess – permits a short intermission 


2. Not debatable 

3. Not amendable 




VI. Motions that bring a question before the assembly again 

A. Reconsider – allows a question previously disposed of to come 

again before the assembly as if it had not been considered. 

Can only be made by a member who voted on the prevailing 


side, and only on the same day the original vote was taken 


2. Is debatable only if the original motion to be reconsidered 

is debatable 





B. Rescind – voids a motion previously passed 




4. Simple majority if prior notice given, or 2/3 if not 

5. Only a negative vote can be reconsidered 

6. Cannot interrupt a speaker who has the floor 

C. Take from the table 




4. Majority vote 


6. Cannot interrupt a speaker who has the floor 

VII. Incidental Motions 

A. Point of information – wants facts about the business at hand 

1. “I rise to a point of information” 

2. Can happen at any time 

B. Parliamentary Inquiry – requests chair’s opinion, not a ruling on 

a matter regarding the business at hand 

1. Can happen at any time 

C. Division of Assembly – calls for verification when a member 

doubts the accuracy of a voice vote 

1. Can happen after a voice vote is taken 

D. Withdraw a motion – permits a member to remove his or her 

question from consideration, even after the motion has been 

restated by the chair. 

1. “Madam President, I move that I be allowed to withdraw 

the motion.” 

E. Point of Order – Challenges an error in procedure and requires 

a ruling by the chair. 

1. “I rise to a point of order,” or, “Point of Order” 


Teacher Note: 

Make enough 

sets of motions 

for class groups 

of 3-4. Cut the 

motions into 

strips and 

laminate so the 

sets can be 

reused. 

Activity 

I. Participate in the Name the Question Multimedia Game. (Game 1, 

Game 2, Game 3) 

II. 

Divide the class in to groups of 3-4. Rank motions in order starting 

with the highest. (List of Motions 1, List of Motions 2, List of Motions 

3, List of Motions 4) 

Assessment 

Member of a Team Rubric 

Materials 

Handouts : Classification of Motions 

Multimedia Presentation : Parliamentary Procedure III 

Accommodations for Learning Differences 

For reinforcement, the students will list the motions in ranking order. 

For enrichment, the students will select one motion and design a role play, 

rhyme, or some creative way to remember all of the points of that motion. 

National and State Education Standards 

National Health Science Cluster Standards 

HLC07.01 Leadership and Teamwork 

Health care workers will understand the roles and responsibilities of 

individual members as part of the health care team, including their ability to 

promote the delivery of quality health care. 

TEKS 

130.204(c)(10)B participate in group dynamics; and 

130.204(c)(10)C integrate consensus-building techniques. 

Texas College and Career Readiness Standards 

Social Studies Standards 

E4. Identify and evaluate the sources and consequences of social conflict. 


List of Motions 1 

LAY ON THE TABLE 

PREVIOUS QUESTION 

POSTPONE DEFINITELY 

COMMIT/REFER 

Correct order: Lay on the Table 

Previous Question 

Commit/Refer 

Postpone Definitely 



AMENDMENT 

POSTPONE INDEFINITELY 

ADJOURN 

RECESS 

Correct Order: Adjourn 

Recess 

Amend 

Postpone Indefinitely 



PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY 

DIVISION OF ASSEMBLY 

WITHDRAW A MOTION 

POINT OF ORDER 

Correct Order: Incidental Motions- they have no rank 



Main Motion 

Refer to Committee 

Amend 

Adjourn 

Correct order: Adjourn 

Refer to committee 

Amend 

Main Motion 


Types of Motions Brought to Assemblies (Handout) 

Four main types of motions: Main, subsidiary, privileged, and incidental. 

Motions are ranked – some have higher precedence than others. The highest ranking is 

privileged, followed by subsidiary, and then main. Incidental motions don’t really have a ranking, 

much like the main motion. Only one motion can be considered at a time; the sequence in which 

motions may be taken up is determined by their ranking – highest to lowest. So the main motion 

is the last motion to be considered, because it has no ranking. 

Main Motions 

Have no rank – all other motions take precedence over main motions 

Introduce new business to an assembly 

Introduced by anyone in the group 

Begin with the words “I move that. . . .” 

Main motions: 

A. Require a second 

B. Are debatable 

C. Are amendable 

D. Require a majority vote 


F. Cannot interrupt a speaker – must wait until the floor is yielded, and then the one 

who introduces the motion must gain the floor. 

Subsidiary Motions 

May be applied to another motion for the purpose of modifying it, delaying action on it, or 

disposing of it 

Have a specific order of precedence 

Lay on the Table (Highest subsidiary motion) – the motion to postpone an item of 

business because something more important has arisen 

A. Requires a second 

B. Not debatable 

C. Not amendable 

D. Cannot be reconsidered 

E. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

Previous Question (motion, if passed, orders an immediate vote) 




D. Passed by a 2/3 vote 

E. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

F. “I move the previous question” means lets vote 


Limit or extend limits of debate – both number and length of speeches 



C. Is amendable 

D. 2/3 vote for adoption 


F. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

Postpone definitely – defers to a definite day, place, and time. 


B. Is debatable 


D. Majority vote required 



Commit or refer – gives a motion more detailed attention, or permits it to be handled 

privately 







Amendments – modify a main motion by inserting, adding, striking, and substituting 


B. Is debatable if the main motion is debatable 

C. Amendment of the first degree may be amended by amendment of the second 

degree 

D. Second degree cannot be amended 

E. Related to the motion pending 

F. Majority vote required 

G. May be reconsidered only until the main motion is adopted; otherwise, the whole 

main motion may be reconsidered 

H. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

Postpone indefinitely – disposes of a question without having to vote on it 





E. Cannot be reconsidered 



Privileged Motions 

Adjourn – terminates the meeting 

A. “I move that we adjourn” 

B. Requires a second 

C. Not debatable 

D. Not amendable 

E. Majority vote required 

F. Cannot be reconsidered 

G. Cannot interrupt one who has the floor 

Recess – permits a short intermission 







Raise a question of privilege – bringing an important issue before the assembly that is 

related to the members rights and privileges – needs to have immediate consideration 

A. Does not require a second 

B. Is not debatable 

C. Is not amendable 

D. No vote required for this – only on the question being brought 



Call for the order of the day 

A. Does not require a second 



D. 2/3 vote required 




Motions That Bring a Question Before the Assembly Again 

Reconsider – allows a question previously disposed of to come again before the 

assembly as if it had not been considered. Can only be made by a member who voted on 

the prevailing side, and only on the same day the original vote was taken. 


B. Is debatable only if the original motion to be reconsidered is debatable 




F. Cannot interrupt another speaker with the floor 

Discharge a committee – take a matter out of a committee’s hands 




D. Simple majority if prior notice given, or 2/3 vote 

E. Only a negative vote can be reconsidered 

F. Cannot interrupt a speaker who has the floor 

Rescind – voids a previously passed motion 




D. Simple majority if prior notice given, or 2/3 vote 

E. Only a negative vote can be reconsidered 


Take from the table 




D. Majority vote 




Incidental Motions 

Point of information 

A desire for facts about the business at hand 

“I rise to a point of information.” 

Can happen at any time 

Parliamentary Inquiry 

Requests the chair’s opinion 

Not a ruling on a matter regarding the business at hand 

Can happen at any time 

Division of Assembly 

Calls for verification when a member doubts the accuracy of a voice vote 

Can happen after a voice vote is taken 

Withdraw a motion 

Permits a member to remove his or her question from consideration even after the 

motion has been restated by the chair 

“Madam President, I move that I be allowed to withdraw the motion.” 

Suspend the rules 

Temporarily sets aside a rule to permit the assembly to take an action it could not 

otherwise take 

“I move to suspend the rules which interfere with considering the motion to hold a 

get-acquainted happy hour for new members.” 

Requires a 2/3 vote and cannot be reconsidered. 

Appeal from the ruling of the chair 

Challenges a ruling of the chair 

A majority vote sustains the ruling. 

“I appeal from the decision of the chair.” 

Point of Order 

Challenges an error in procedure 

Requires a ruling by the chair. 

“I rise to a point of order,” or, “Point of Order!”

Parliamentary Procedure III - Texas Health Science!

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